Is Krom considering a run for the State Assembly in 2014?

Is Irvine Council Member Beth Krom considering a run for the State Assembly? That is what a young man at the Democratic Party table at this Saturday’s Bruin Day event told me. The fellow said he lived in Mission Viejo and that he had heard Krom talking about this at a meeting of local Democratic activists.

Most of the City of Irvine is in the 68th Assembly District, which is currently held by Republican Don Wagner. Wagner won this seat in 2010, a few days after the tragic death of his son, Paul Wagner. An autopsy revealed that Paul had a severely enlarged heart that has not been previously diagnosed. Paul was diagnosed with bipolar disorder a year ago and was on prescribed medication.

Ironically Krom’s son Noah died tragically as well, while she was also running for office. Just a week from graduating from UC Santa Barbara in 2009, Noah Krom headed downtown to celebrate with friends, according to the UCSB’s independent student newspaper, the Daily Nexus. According to investigative reports, later that night residents of 6663 Del Playa Dr. reported seeing a taxi driver in pursuit of Noah, who jumped their fence at the south end of the backyard. The driver left the scene after Noah hopped the barrier.

Here is the rest of the story, courtesy of the Daily Nexus:

Noah’s body was not found until the next morning.The immediate cause of death was multiple blunt force trauma — Noah died minutes after hitting the ground — but reports also list “acute and chronic ethanol abuse” as a significant condition contributing to death.

Noah’s body was found with a “50 Club Isla Vista” shot glass. Toxicology reports show that his blood alcohol content was .257 at the time of his death.

“The crazy thing about Noah’s death is that if he’d jumped the fence six inches to the right, he’d still be here with us. It just so happened that he hopped a fence where the cliff receded,” John Lewis, one of Noah’s roommates, said.

“You think you’re safe because Isla Vista. is a bubble. You think it’s never going to happen to you.”

I cannot imagine what Wagner and Krom both went through – losing their sons while running for office. While Wagner won, Krom lost badly, to U.S. Rep. John Campbell, who beat her by over 57,000 votes, according to Smart Voter.

How would Krom fare against Wagner? He beat Krom’s longtime ally, Melissa Fox, in 2010, by over 31,000 votes, according to Smart Voter, in the 70th Assembly District. In 2012, Wagner beat his Democratic opponent, Christina Avalos, by over 23,000 votes, according to Smart Voter. Given those lopsided victories I cannot imagine how Krom thinks she will at all contend against Wagner in 2014.

Krom was the top vote-getter in the Irvine City Council election in 2012. But her past success in Irvine’s Council races did not help her in 2010, when she lost to Campbell. That said, she was elected in 2012 to a four year term, so she can safely run for another office in 2014 and not jeopardize her Council seat.

Krom and her Democratic Council colleague, Larry Agran, lost control of the Irvine City Council in November of 2012, when Agran was defeated by Steven Choi, in the Mayoral race, and fellow Republican Christina Shea was elected again to the City Council. Together with Council Member Jeff Lalloway, these Republicans now form a Council majority. They quickly took control of the Great Park and have since fired the Irvine City Attorney.

9 thoughts on “Is Krom considering a run for the State Assembly in 2014?”

I don’t know who is behind this post, but my guess is it’s been contrived just to have an excuse to slam Beth Krom. I had the good fortune to work with Beth on her Congressional race. She may have lost, but she ran a great campaign. As a lifelong Irvine resident, I can think of no local official who has worked harder for the people of our city. John Campbell remains possibly the worst Congressional representative in Orange County. If you can point out one thing he’s done for the people of Irvine I’d love to hear about it. As for your focus on the connection she and Don Wagner have in losing sons, why don’t you show some respect? Both of these elected officials have shown strength and grace under the most difficult circumstances. Why would you make their losses fodder for your speculative post? Finally, I’m pretty sure Beth doesn’t even live in Don Wagner’s district. So much for the credibility of things posted in this blog.

Despite your obvious dislike of Campbell he easily defeated Krom. In elections there can only be one winner. There are no consolation prizes.

Family matters and as such we felt that a possible Krom versus Wagner race merited a look back at tragic events that affected both of them in 2009/2010. We cited news sources in so doing.

As for the issue of Krom’s address she has ample time to rent a place in the district. I suppose she could run against Mansoor instead. But there simply is no way she can beat him either. These are red districts.

Your comments are reflect a true Agranista who han’t yet realized that the voters finally woke up and smelled the rotten eggs at City Hall. Adding to that, when the Great Park Audit hits in a month or two, Larry Agran, Beth Krom and Sukhee Kang will be shown to be the incompetents they have been for the past ten years. As such, Beth Krom would have trouble getting elected Dog Catcher. She is lucky to have two more years on her current Council Term, but an indictment (if there is one) for misdeeds as an Agranista could put an end to that. I am pleased to say, I think we have seen the last of the Agranista Gang and the ball is now in the court of the conservative majority, to demonstrate they can do better. So far, I like what I am seeing.

Editor’s comments are trifling and immature, and more importantly, fail to address the key points. It would have been more journalistically responsible to confirm Councilmember Krom’s intentions in the first place, which I doubt include such a run. Barring that, it’s far more relevant to contrast her views with Wagner’s ultra-conservative perspective, including:
– Voted against expanded eligibility for MediCal
– Considers the state’s environmental laws burdensome extreme
– Opposed to “re-defining” traditional family
– Against sensible gun controls
– Opposes reproductive choice
– Refused to identify his stance on any issues addressed in 2012 Political Courage Test, despite repeated requests from national media and prominent political leaders
Discussion about either politician’s personal tragedies miss the point completely, and are not supported with references to “news” sources such as an independent, student-run rag.

Why would I believe anything Krom or any other politician has to say? She has a four year seat and as such can safely run for another office in two years. She has already run for Congress so an Assembly campaign would be par for the course. I think she would be better off running for the State Board of Equalization.

That student newspaper directly referenced the public autopsy report. Are you seriously going to question that report?

If Krom does challenge Wagner I guarantee that this issue will be front and center. It’s human interest and reporters don’t generally miss such angles.

As for Wagner’s positions, don’t assume I support all of them. I’m a Libertarian, not a Republican. And Krom has much to answer for as well, particularly the mismanagement at the Great Park.